All Hands-Working Fire East Windsor 08/16/2005

Well Involved in East Windsor

Date of Fire: 08/16/2005

The Washington Township Fire Department responded on an automatic aid call for a house fire in neighboring East Windsor Township on August 16, 2005.

Washington Township Engine 402 arrived as the second due company. Firefighters were immediately faced with a heavily involved attic fire in a single family dwelling. The fire was being held in check by the attack crews from Squirt 42 and Engine 402 but they were rapidly exhausting their supply of tank water. Engine 402 laid 800 feet of supply hose toward the closest hydrant and then Engine 42 was needed to complete the over 1,300' + lay.

The aggressive interior attack by Washington and East Windsor firefighters brought the fire under control in 25 minutes thus avoiding the need for an exterior operation. Although there was heavy damage to the attic and roof, most of the occupant's belongings were preserved and salvaged at the scene.

Initial reports indicate that the fire was accidentally started by a plumber working in the second floor of the home. In addition to East Windsor and Washington Township Fire Departments, firefighters also responded from West Windsor, Cranbury and Plainsboro and Hightstown Fire Company. East Windsor Rescue Squad also responded to the incident but no injuries to firefighters were reported.

Blaze destroys woman's home

Fire in home on Cherrybrook Lane in East Windsor caused extensive damage, leaving the resident homeless.

Published in the Windsor-Hights Herald, http://www.packetonline.com

By: Jessica Bowker, Staff Writer

   EAST WINDSOR — A fire ripped through the roof of a single-family home at 14 Cherrybrook Lane on Tuesday afternoon, causing extensive damage to the entire building and leaving a woman homeless.
   Although the cause of the fire was still under investigation, police said a plumber had been using a torch in the upstairs bathroom wall to replace a shower just before the blaze.
   The unidentified homeowner, who lived alone, was not in the house at the time of the fire. Police said the 57-year-old woman was at work. The only person inside was the plumber, who managed to get to safety and call police.
   Also unharmed were the homeowner's two dogs. Lt. James Brady said one dog ran out of the house while he chased out the other.
   The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey met with the homeowner, who arrived after the fire was put out.
   "She is now staying with friends," said Paul Carden, Red Cross director of emergency services.
   On Wednesday afternoon, the homeowner, who asked not to be identified, was in her neighbor's home with several dogs. Asked to comment, she politely declined and then turned away as she broke down crying.
   Several other neighbors expressed their sympathy but declined to be quoted. One woman did describe what she saw Tuesday.
   "It went up so fast," she said of the destructive fire.
   Tony Katawick, chief of East Windsor Township Volunteer Fire Company 1, said there was already extensive damage to the house when firefighters arrived at 12:50 p.m.
   "When we arrived on location the fire had already breached the roof and had burned through the plywood and shingles," he said. "The fire had to have been in full burn for at least 15 minutes."
   Assisting East Windsor Township Volunteer Fire Company 1 were Hightstown, Cranbury, Washington Township, West Windsor and Plainsboro fire companies.
   The neatly manicured lawn of the destroyed home was covered in large piles of blackened ash, and various pieces of damaged furniture Wednesday. A mattress lay crushed on the lawn, and a blackened headboard leaned nearby. The house, bright and colorful at its base, but still smelling strongly of smoke, had a gaping hole where the roof should have been.

Published in the Trenton Times, by Mike Ratcliffe http://www.nj.com

EAST WINDSOR _ A fire that was probably started by a plumber's torch
heavily-damaged a home on Cherry Brook Lane yesterday afternoon, police
said.
Flames had already burned through the roof of the split-level home by
the time the blaze was reported to police and firefighters at 12:50
p.m., police said.
Firefighters from East Windsor No. 1, Washington

Township, Hightstown, Cranbury, West Windsor and Plainsboro fire
companies brought the fire under control in 25 minutes. There were no
injuries reported.
``The investigation into the cause of the fire is focusing on plumbing
work that was being done in an upstairs bathroom,'' police said in a
news release. ``Minutes before the fire, a professional plumber was
using a torch in the area of the bathroom wall while replacing a shower
for the homeowner.''
Police did identify the plumber. The name of the homeowner, who was not
home at the time of the fire, was also not released.
The homeowner _ the home's sole occupant _ was being assisted last
night by the Red Cross, police said.
Investigating the fire are the township fire marshal's office, township
police and the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.

Photos below from Aaron Rubinstein, West Windsor Fire Company

A hose stream shoots out of a roof from firefighters making an aggressive interior attack on the fire.

Conditions on arrival, arriving firefighters were met with heavy fire on the 2nd floor and roof areas of the structure.

Even though the roof was burned away and 2nd floor sustained heavy damage many personal items were recovered including photo albums, clothing and other keepsakes. The 1st floor, basement and garage area were saved by fire. A car kept in the garage was pushed out by firefighters and suffered no damage.